|PIC1|CPA promotes the biblical values of Peace, Reconciliation and Hope across the continent. CPA Leader, Pastor Thomas-Rene Kitutu, said he has seen the fruit of the peacemaking work of Dr Cassidy and the African Enterprise Team in his home country, the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Michael Cassidy has been involved in Peace and Reconciliation work in Africa for more than 40 years, particularly in South Africa during the Apartheid era. This culminated in extensive behind the scenes peacemaking endeavours, which are recognised as having contributed significantly to the peaceful 1994 Elections. In 1996, at the request of President Nelson Mandela, Michael, along with Bishop Matthew Makhaye of the Anglican church and Bishop Stanley Mogoba of the Methodist church, was also extensively involved in efforts to bring peace to KwaZulu Natal in the run-up to the provincial elections.
During the late 1990s AE set up a Peace and Reconciliation department which is headed by Emmanuel Kopwe from Tanzania. It has been involved in peacemaking work in Burundi for the last 8 years.
Accepting his award from Pastor Kitutu, Michael paid tribute to the peace-making efforts of the whole African Enterprise team, and also shared some of the principles of peacemaking that he and AE have learned in their 45 years of work across the African continent.